As another memorable summer of music in Manchester fades into fond collective memory, September’s gig schedule is keeping the fun at fever pitch with a spread of eclectic shows across the city, from the annual Manchester Psych Fest to long-awaited returns from The Dresden Dolls and Electric Wizard, as well as a few global stars heading to Co-op Live and AO Arena.
Twenty-five years into their gloriously strange career, The Dresden Dolls return to Manchester for a night of piano-led punk, cabaret theatrics and a generous helping of typically flamboyant disorder. Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione remain a formidable live proposition, taking over Albert Hall with a performance of their hit album, Yes, Virginia (Tailor’s Version).
On Fri 11 Sep, The King of Waltz heads to Co-op Live with his Johann Strauss Orchestra for an evening of romance, old-school showmanship and all the usual, lavish orchestral spectacle of his unforgettable live shows.
The following night, noughties icon Hilary Duff brings a sparkling dose of childhood nostalgia to the AO Arena as part of The Lucky Me Tour. Dust off the Disney+ subscription, scream along to the hits with shameless abandon and enjoy the one-off show dreams are made of.
Former Auteurs frontman Luke Haines stops by iconic gig haunt Night & Day for an evening of sharp guitars, ‘relentlessly highbrow’ lyricism and exquisitely acute observations.
Despite his meticulously curated image as a sinister misanthrope, Haines’s live sets reliably bounce between self-deprecating humour, interludal banter and a lot of wry self-aggrandisement.
Dorset doom-metal legends Electric Wizard are set to stress-test the spacetime continuum with their singular brand of sonic devastation at Albert Hall, returning to town with all the apocalyptic low-end riffs the speakers can handle.
Drummer and producer Richard Spaven has spent years pulling jazz, hip hop, electronic music and drum and bass into the same orbit, with his intricate playing style as the gravitational core. One of the defining rhythmic voices of the last twenty years, his technical mastery and creative vision have helped to establish a unique musical intersection, while his collaborative partners include Loyle Carner, Jordan Rakei, Petter Eldh and Alfa Mist.
Irish traditional music meets Detroit jazz and post-rock with The olllam, a band led by Belfast uilleann virtuoso John McSherry alongside Joe Dart (Vulfpeck), Michael Shimmin, Ross Ainslie, Seán O’Meara, and Joe Hettinga.
Their weeknight gig at Academy 2 offers a rare chance to catch their innovative alchemy of ancient melodies and sonic futurism.
Niall Horan brings his Dinner Party Live tour to Co-op Live for a delightful evening of polished pop and acoustic ballads. The former One Direction charmer has become a formidable solo act in his own right, with a catalogue of arena-ready sing-a-long anthems for longtime fans and new ‘Niallers’ alike.
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Fri 4 Sep 2026
Manchester Psych Fest returns for another day of trippy tunes and spaced-out soudns, taking over venues across town with a typically huge bill. The Beta Band, Stereolab and Ty Segall lead the way, alongside more than 70 acts performing between the likes of Gorilla, YES, Deaf Institute, The Abbey and Manchester Academy.